Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/14/1996 02:12 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 452 - CALCULATION OF STATE AID TO EDUCATION Number 453 CO-CHAIR BUNDE explained that HB 452 addressed disparity funding and funding for single site school districts. It included the single site districts in part of the foundation formula, and personally he would rather the single sites be addressed individually. He pointed out he had an amendment that would take the single sites out of HB 452 and allow them to be addressed separately as they had been in the past. Number 506 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY moved to adopt Amendment 1, 9-GH2043\A.1, dated 3/8/96. REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON objected for discussion purposes. CO-CHAIR BUNDE reiterated that Amendment 1 would remove the single site funding and require the single sites to be funded as a separate entity; essentially it would maintain the status quo. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked if there was other legislation that addressed this question specifically. CO-CHAIR BUNDE replied no, it had been funded as part of the budget in the past. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS believed he heard that someone had considered introducing legislation that would roll the single sites into the foundation formula, which he certainly favored because of the hassles every year with the foundation formula and then the single sites. He felt it would be a simpler process to combine them, but acknowledged there were differences in the structures, pupil/teacher ratios, etc. Number 715 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON asked if the committee could get the department's reaction to the amendment. Number 735 JIM ELLIOTT, Acting Director, School Finance, Department of Education, introduced Eddy Jeans who administers the foundation program. Number 741 EDDY JEANS, School Foundation, School Finance, Department of Education, testified it was the department's recommendation that the section remain with the bill. The current foundation program has been in place since 1988, and the single site school districts have continued to receive supplemental allocations outside of the formula, with the exception of one year. House Bill 452 places the funding allocation within the parameters of the foundation formula. CO-CHAIR BUNDE said the question is whether or not it should be in the formula and this amendment would take it out of the formula. Number 790 REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in strong opposition to Amendment 1. He pointed out it has always been a point of contention every year when education funding was discussed. The drafters of the current formula basically understood it would need to be addressed again and in his opinion the sooner it is dealt with, the less contention there will be regarding funding for the single sites. CO-CHAIR BUNDE stated there were two ways to deal with the single site issue. One would be to roll it into the formula and allow these small, inefficient operations to continue. The second option would be to eliminate single site schools. This amendment would leave the option open. Number 914 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON expressed her intention to maintain her objection. Every year the smaller school districts come before the legislature to lobby for adequate funding, and she agreed with the Department of Education that it was time to fix the problem once and for all. CO-CHAIR BUNDE repeated there were two ways to fix it: Make them more efficient or throw money at them. Number 953 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS asked for further explanation on Section 4 from a representative of the department. MR. JEANS said Section 4 places a new table in the foundation formula which increases the instructional units allotted to single site school districts. It does not increase or decrease the number of school districts in the state; it simply moves the funding mechanism into the statute. REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS commented from that standpoint some people think there are some single site schools overly funded, while other single site schools could use a little more money. Section 4 would put the funding in statute, and would continue to be perceived as over funded by some people. MR. JEANS pointed out the table in HB 452 funds the same single site districts that were funded through the legislature last year. CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked how many school districts that included? MR. JEANS said he believed it was 22 school districts. CO-CHAIR BUNDE commented that was 22 superintendents of schools that were hired through this funding. CO-CHAIR BUNDE closed public testimony. He said there was a motion to adopt Amendment 1 and an objection had been raised. He asked for a roll call vote. Voting in favor of Amendment 1 were Representatives Vezey, Davis, Rokeberg, Toohey and Bunde. Voting against the adoption of Amendment 1 were Representatives Brice and Robinson. REPRESENTATIVE VEZEY objected for a point of order. Discussion ensued regarding Representative Brice's right to vote via teleconference. HESS Committee Aide, Lynne Smith, informed the committee that Legislative Legal had advised that a committee member in attendance of a committee meeting via teleconference was allowed to vote on amendments, but could not vote to pass a bill out of committee. Number 1127 REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS moved to pass CSHB 452(HES) out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
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